A govt of oil and water – PM

Tsvangirai, who was consulting his party supporters on the possibility of holding elections next year, said the ballot was the only way out of frustrations by Zanu (PF) which continued to violate the Global Political Agreement (GPA) which gave birth to the coalition government.

“The coalition government is like a mixture of oil and water, very unrelated and an unworkable combination. Zanu (PF) is not honouring the GPA. I am treated as a junior partner, yet I beat Mugabe in the elections. Mugabe wants to frustrate us so that we pull out, but we will not. It is better to fight from within,” Tsvangirai told his supporters.

He said the inclusive government was a temporary creature that should come to an end when its lifespan expires next year. “Power sharing worldwide has never worked 50/50. But we had to get into the inclusive government and lobby for the constitution and reform some electoral laws, which also help set the stage for fair elections. Tsvangirai said he would participate in the polls provided they were free of violence and the playing field was even.

President Robert Mugabe is insisting that elections be held next year, despite the voters roll being in a shambles and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission advising that holding elections before 2012 would not be possible, given the multiple constraints facing it. We must have SADC and AU election observers before we can hold the elections. A proper voters roll should also be available to ensure that all those above 18 years can go and vote. An independent electoral commission should be in place before that election, said Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai also made an impassioned plea to his supporters to go and register as voters. You must not just support the party. You have to go further than that by registering as voters so that you can vote overwhelmingly for your party, he said.